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Silo City Rocks hopes elevators will rope climbers in
Some people look at them and see architectural beauty. To others, they are haunting reminders of Buffalo's industrial past.
But for many people gathered near the grain elevators off Childs Street on Saturday, these unmistakable structures became something else:
A playground.
"We look at these – and see cliffs," said Kevin Cullen, one of the creators of the concept for a climbing facility, gesturing to the hulking, 90-year-old elevators.
A group of adventure and outdoor enthusiasts unveiled plans Saturday to groups of interested onlookers for "Silo City Rocks," a planned climbing and rappelling gym-type center that is in initial stages in the Silo City area, at 92 Childs St.
The group was participating in public activities at the site for the 11th annual Boom Days fete, an annual celebration of the removal of the ice boom and arrival of spring.
"The idea is to kind of advertise the site," said Rick Smith, whose River Sullivan outfit owns the Silo City property, including three grain elevators, where the Boom Days have been held for the past two years.
"It's trying to regenerate some of the old stuff, of which we've got plenty – and make it attractive to that (younger) demographic," said Smith. "Say, 'Hey, this is cool.' "
Boom Days drew more than 500 people last year, and organizers Saturday said they were expecting at least 800 people to visit the 12-acre Silo City property on Saturday for the event.
The Boom Days event began at 2 p.m. and lasted into the evening. Participants took walking tours of the site and learned about some of the existing and proposed plans for the complex. Music, food and horse-drawn wagons were also on hand. The event was free; donations were being collected to benefit the Edward M. Cotter fireboat.
Cullen and other creative forces behind Silo City Rocks offered tours of their proposed gym and climbing area, which they said would occupy some 4,000 square feet within an elevator that is 190 feet tall at its highest point.
"There's not much in the area," said Brian Kruszka, 27, a Hamburg resident who said he often has to travel to find challenging climbs and rappelling opportunities. Kruszka is also helping create the Silo City Rocks facility.
"A lot of people don't realize there is this sort of community here," Kruszka said. "The adventuring community."
Of the Boom Days unveiling, Kruszka expressed this hope: "I think it's going to build interest – turn people into climbers."
During the event, visitors learned about – and saw early incarnations of – some of the features that will fill the Silo City Rocks site, including "bouldering caves," which are rooms in the elevator, some with low or sloping roofs, that will be equipped with handholds and footholds and turned into low-ceilinged climbing areas.
"Bouldering came from outside climbing, obviously. You'd top out at 15, 20 feet. With these ceilings, it's like a natural bouldering cave," said Cullen, pointing to concrete walls in the silo where some handholds have already been installed. "It's perfect, really."
Also shown to guests were places in the silos where "top-roping" spaces will be created, giving users the ability to climb long ropes toward a ceiling high above.
"One of our biggest motivations is to give people access to outdoor recreation in Buffalo," said Cullen, who lived in Colorado and elsewhere for five years before returning to Buffalo.
Silo City Rocks proponents said that the facility aims to be one part of the larger fabric of activity in the Childs Street area.
Plans currently call for the center to operate something like a gym, with daily passes available as well as monthly memberships, said Cullen. He said future development at the facility might include a yoga studio, lounge, library, kids' area and retail store.
The group has launched a Facebook page – which Cullen said has been getting a lot of attention – as well as an online fundraising campaign via Indiegogo.
"What's cool about Silo City is, we're really a small part of what's going on here," said Cullen.
Other founders of the facility include Jason Schwinger and Andy Minier.
Smith, the owner of the property, said that Silo City Rocks makes a great fit for the larger Silo City site.
"Silo City Rocks is about perfect, because it's outdoor-focused, on the waterfront," Smith said. "It's about giving 28-year-olds a reason to stay around our fair city."
Silo City Rocks aims to have a "soft opening" this summer, Cullen said. That will mean that parts of the site – likely some bouldering rooms and a rope-climbing area – will be available for use by the public.
After that, the group will continue to build momentum and add to its offerings, he said.
One goal Cullen said that Silo City Rocks hopes to achieve down the road a bit is the installation of a climbing area in the very tallest tower of the silo, which reaches 190 feet.
Most of the rest of the elevator is 120 feet high, he said.
If that 190-foot section were turned into a climbing venue, it would rival and maybe even surpass the current tallest man-made climb for enthusiasts, which is in Reno, Nev., he said.
Cullen jokes that the Silo City Rocks fans refer to that future climb with joking names that will have immediate relevance to Western New Yorkers:
"The 190" – or "The Skyway."
Take your pick.
email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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User:Ilan xd
You may be badass, but you'll never be as badass as me.
Hello there, my name is Ilan xd and I am a big fan of Rockstar's GTA series.
I am an administrator on the Wikia hosted GTA Wiki, as well as an admin on both the Red Dead and the Max Payne Wikis, while serving as a Patroller on the LA Noire Wiki. I'm also a bureaucrat on the Rede Dead Answers Wikia.
Oh, and by the way, don't think that just because Rockstar announced Grand Theft Auto V, I'll put the "this user thinks GTA 5 is the best game" template - none of you has played GTA5 yet, so there is no reason of putting such template on my user page.
This section is about my favorite games, not which games I own/ed.
Characters (NPCs)
- GTA III games: Lance Vance, Kent Paul, Sweet, Salvatore Leone
- GTA IV Games: Little Jacob, Dimitri Rascalov, Jim Fitzgerald, Yusuf Amir
- GTA III games: Machete, Minigun
- GTA IV games: .44 Pistol (epic)
Too many, I can't pick just one! (although I really enjoyed the missions The Job, Guardian Angels, Breaking the Bank at Caligula's, Riot, and pretty much every mission in GTA4 plus DLCs)

subset: commoncrawl


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This was, by far, one of the wildest and craziest MILF Hunter episodes of all time. The way the story goes, Levi had gotten an email from a friend of a friend who wanted to meet the MILF Hunter in person. He'd dealt with groupies before, but this time was different. The chick's name was Violet, and she told Levi to meet her on a certain train at a specific time. That was all the guys had to go on. They had made it, sure enough, but there was no sign of Violet. However, there were a bunch of other people in the train cart. Within a couple minutes, a sexy MILF entered the train compartment and sat right next to Levi. She immediately introduced herself as Violet and told Levi about her fantasy of having public sex on a train.
Levi asked her, "right here?" But he could even react, Violet pulled out her big MILF tits and showed them to Levi. The girls on the train noticed and broke out because they were pretty sure things were about to get freaky. One guy did kind of hang around, so Levi gave him all the cash he had to motivate him to leave. Now that they were alone, Levi and Violet went at it wildly. He played with her pussy, and she sucked his cock in return. Then they had an all-out fuckfest in the train cart. They banged here, there, and everywhere. They even did it holding the railing. When it was just too much for Levi, he pulled out and busted his cumload on Violet's face. About that time, she explained it was her stop and time to get off.


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Learn Javascript VISUALLY is a soon to be launched book that will make learning JavaScript learning easy and fun, the book consists of the JavaScript Fundamentals explained using easy to understand Metaphors, Analogies and Easy Step-by-Step Exercises. The book written by Ivelin Demirov has been especially created for the people who feel intimidated by JavaScript and struggle to understand even the basic fundamentals of the programming language.
James M., a backer, has commented on the KickStarter Campaign:
"The second picture helped me overcome a stumbling block I've had for the last 18 months. Result? Insta-pledge. If one sample page can help me that much, I can't wait for the rest of the book."
"Visual learners retain information tremendously differently than their left brained counter-parts, and thus benefit from different approaches. Full color illustrations help memory triggers as your brain never forgets an image, metaphor or schema. One page of a visual guide can equal one chapter of a conventional book as illustrations can make a world of difference over strictly words on a page!"
Using the right brained approach to learning Demirov has crafted a new innovate way of teaching JavaScript in his book using JavaScript fundamentals through metaphors, analogies and easy step-by-step exercises. KickStarter Learn Javascript VISUALLY Campaign Page features some examples of the type of illustrations and explanations to be included in the book. The examples portray how easy it is to understand the fundamentals when broken down into easy to understand chunks using illustrations.
About Learn Javascript VISUALLY:
Learn Javascript VISUALLY will be a beautifully illustrated book that teaches JavaScript fundamentals through metaphors, analogies and easy step-by-step exercises highly suitable for visual learners.
To learn more and back the KickStarter Campaign please visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1006319399/learn-javascript-visually
Company Name: Learn Javascript VISUALLY
Contact Person: Ivelin Demirov
Email: Send Email
City: Montreal
State: Quebec
Country: Canada
Website: http://jsvisually.com


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In this article I am going to describe how to use views in SQL Server 2005 database. A view is a virtual table that consists of columns from one or more tables. Though it is similar to a table, it is stored in the database. It is a query stored as an object. Hence, a view is an object that derives its data from one or more tables. These tables are referred to as base or underlying tables. Once you have defined a view, you can reference it like any other table in a database.A view serves as a security mechanism. This ensures that users are able to retrieve and modify only the data seen by them. Users cannot see or access the remaining data in the underlying tables. A view also serves as a mechanism to simplify query execution. Complex queries can be stored in the form as a view, and data from the view can be extracted using simple queries.
In this example I am using my Vendor database which has these fields.Here is my database: Figure 1.Create View :USE [Vendor]GO/****** Object: View [dbo].[VendorData] Script Date: 08/07/2008 23:27:34 ******/SET ANSI_NULLS ONGOSET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ONGOALTER VIEW [dbo].[VendorData] AS SELECT VendorId,VendorFName,VendorLName,VendorCity,VendorState,VendorCountry,PostedDate,VendorDescriptionFROM VendorYou can execute your view like this, in this example VendorData is my View name.Use VendorGOSELECT * FROM VendorData WHERE VendorState = 'PA' ORDER BY PostedDateGOOutput:Figure 2.This is it.Stored Procedure A stored procedure is a set of one or more SQL statements that are stored together in database. To create a stored procedure use CREATE PROCEDURE statement. To use the stored procedure you send a request for it to be executed. When server recieves the request, it executes the stored procedure. Stored procedures assist in achieving a consistent implementation of logic across applications. The SQL statements and logic needed to perform a commonly performed task can be designed, coded, and tested once in a stored procedure. Each application needing to perform that task can then simply execute the stored procedure. Coding business logic into a single stored procedure also offers a single point of control for ensuring that business rules are correctly enforced.Stored procedures can also improve performance. Many tasks are implemented as a series of SQL statements. Conditional logic applied to the results of the first SQL statements determines which subsequent SQL statements are executed. If these SQL statements and conditional logic are written into a stored procedure, they become part of a single execution plan on the server. The results do not have to be returned to the client to have the conditional logic applied; all of the work is done on the server.There are some concepts of stored procedures.
Example:SET ANSI_NULLS ONGOSET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ONGO-- =============================================-- Author: <Author,,Name>-- Create date: <Create Date,,>-- Description: <Description,,>-- =============================================CREATE PROCEDURE spVendorByState @VendorState varchar(50)ASBEGIN -- SET NOCOUNT ON added to prevent extra result sets from -- interfering with SELECT statements. SET NOCOUNT ON; -- Insert statements for procedure here SELECT VendorId,VendorFName,VendorLName,VendorCity,VendorState,VendorCountry,PostedDate, VendorDescription FROM Vendor Where VendorState = @VendorState ORDER BY PostedDateENDGOYou can execute your stored procedure like this:Figure 3.Output looks like this:Figure 4.This is it.
View All


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for Graduates
Transition to Employment
Congratulations on graduating Queen's! Did you receive academic accommodations? If so, you might need to put some thought on transitioning to work and whether you would benefit from workplace accommodations. Career Services has resources and services to help students.
- Strategize about asking for accommodation(s) during the hiring process or on the job
- Think about disclosure (is it necessary? When to do it? How to do it?)
- Connect with "disability-friendly" employer organizations
- Leverage your relevant experience (paid or unpaid) in resumes and interviews
- Use tools to determine career options that fit your unique interests, skills and needs
Career Services also has an accessible workstation for student use. It is equipped with JAWS, Kurzweil 3000, Dragon etc. in our Career Information Area (3rd floor, Gordon Hall).
|Contact Information
|(613) 533-2992
|(613) 533-2535
|Gordon Hall, 3rd floor
Employment Resources
Career Services at Queen's
Career Services offers drop-in career advising (no appointment required) as well as 1-1 career consultations (in person or by telephone) to help you strategize about career direction (e.g. What are my options? How do I get where I want to go?), job search (e.g. resumes, cover letters, interview techniques), further education (e.g. grad or professional school, post-degree diplomas) and more.
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
Canada-wide network of organizations and individuals. Our mission is to promote and support meaningful and equitable employment of persons with disabilities.
Canadian Association of Professionals with Disabilities
A federally incorporated non-profit dedicated to maximizing the inclusion, job retention, and advancement of current and future professionals with disabilities.
Lime Connect Canada
Assist to connect university students and alumni with disabilities and global corporations as an untapped source of talent.
National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
A Consumer organization, with a mandate to encourage the self-empowerment of post-secondary students with disabilities.
Ontario Disability Employment Network
A professional body of employment service providers united to increase employment opportunities for people who have a disability.
Ontario Disability Program: Employment Support
Employment support or for starting own business.
Service Canada: Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
Provides funding for national, regional and local projects that assist people with disabilities in preparing for and finding employment or self-employment, as well as acquiring the skills necessary to maintain that new employment.
Service Canada: Canada Pension Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Helps people who receive a Canada Pension Plan disability benefit return to Canada's labour market.
Job Search Websites
Ability Edge
National paid internship program for graduates with self-declared disabilities to assist them in gaining career-building work experience.
Career Services at Queen's
Year-round listings of jobs and internships in Kingston and elsewhere. Search for part-time, summer, internship or after-graduation job opportunities.
KEYS Job Centre
KEYS Job Centre is a community-based centre with expertise in employment and employment related services as well as a regularly updated job board.
Kingston is Hiring
A web-based resource for individuals looking for employment, planning for a career change, or looking to upgrade their credentials.
Accommodation at Convocation
Queen's is committed to ensuring that all of our Convocation participants - graduates, guests and faculty - experience a day that is enjoyable, as well as memorable. If you are a guest with a disability coming to Queen's for a convocation ceremony, please visit the "for Visitors" section for more information for visiting the Queen's campus.
It is recommended that you arrive as early as possible, and no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Doors open 90 minutes prior to each ceremony. Arriving early ensures that you will receive suitable seating before the Procession, which begins 15 minutes prior to the start time. If a graduate or a guest attending Convocation has a disability, seating can be reserved by completing an online PDF form under the Special Needs section.
Please note that the Form must be submitted by the graduate on behalf of their guest(s).
The Office of the University Registrar's website has more important information and services for persons with disabilities under "Special Needs" (scroll down).


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AOTS Exclusive
Displaying 1–20 of 849 videos
A Special Message From Our AOTS Viewers
We asked and you submitted! We compiled the video messages that some of our biggest and best fans have sent us to say goodbye to Attack of the Show. Thank you to those who contributed and watched...
A Tribute To The Best Of AOTS
Join "Weird Al" Yankovic as we pay tribute to those once familiar faces who have passed through the annals of Attack of the Show history.
Farewell To The AOTS Correspondents
We pay tribute to the best correspondents who have traveled far and wide to cover the coolest events for Attack of the Show.
A Final Goodbye From Attack Of the Show
Matt Mira, Candace Bailey and Candace Bailey open up the studio to our crew and staff for one final hurrah in the Attack of the Show studio. Thanks for tuning in and being a part of our show!
Weird Al Presents The History Of Attack Of The Show
Attack of the Show arose from a sordid past, so we brought "Weird Al" Yankovic in to regale you with tales of our much storied legends.
The Classic Moments Of AOTS
Matt Mira, Candace Bailey and Sara Underwood take a look back at some of the most classic moments from Attack of the Show history, as chosen by our viewers!
Meet The Attack of the Show Staff
Five days a week for the past seven years, Attack of the Show has entertained you with celebrity interviews, comedy sketches and the craziest stunts. Now meet the people who helped bring you the...
Olivia Munn's Slave Leia - There Can Only Be One!
Olivia "convinces" everybody that she is the one true Leia.
Jack Daniels Whiskey Tasting With Weston Scott
Weston Scott gets to sample the old fashioned Tennessee sour mash whiskey goods at the Jack Daniels distillery.
Epic Meal Time On AOTS
Roll up those sleeves and tie on that apron because Harley Morenstein from Epic Meal Time is here to show us how to cook up some holiday spirit.
How Jack Daniels Whiskey Is Made
Weston Scott stops by the Jack Daniels headquarters to learn how old fashioned Tennessee sour mash whiskey is made!
Weston Scott Makes Moonshine!
If store-bought alcohol isn't good enough for you, then it's time to make your own! Weston Scott visits the Ole Smoky Distillery in Tennessee to learn the old-fashioned art of making moonshine.
Underground Zip-Lining with Weston Scott
You can zip-line high above the ground, but how about in a cave? Weston Scott visits the Louisville Mega Caverns to ride the world's first underground zip line.
Red Bull Rampage 2012 With Weston Scott
Weston Scott heads to Utah's back country to check out Red Bull Rampage 2012, where free-ride mountain bikers make their own way down a crazy course to win a cash prize.
Nissan Concept Cars & More At The 2012 LA Auto Show
Automobile expert and correspondent reports back at the 2012 LA Auto Show for a look at three new concept cars presented on the showroom floor, like the Nissan DeltaWing racecar, the Honda EV-STER...
Matt Farah Visits The 2012 LA Auto Show
Matt Farah heads over to the Los Angeles Convention Center to check out the 2012 LA Auto Show with the Jaguar F Type Roadster, the Aston Martin Vanquish and the budget-friendly Ford Fiesta ST.
A White Christmas With Shaun White
Shaun White may be n Olympic snow boarder but this holiday season, he'll be celebrating 8 days of giveaways for his biggest fans in a special White Christmas promotion. He shares the latest details...
The Best Black Friday Deals For 2012
Matt Mira is here to help you save some bucks for the 2012 holiday shopping season with his Black Friday deals in Blu-ray players, game consoles, laptops and more.
Weston Scott Makes Ass Kickin Hot Sauce
West Scott's poor taste buds get a sample of the Ass Kickin Hot Sauce headquarters where he learns how their insanely spicy products come together.
Weston Scott Flies A Glider Plane
When Weston Scott plans his vacation, you know there's always something dangerous planned. This time, he soars into the sky with a glider plane out in Arizona. A plane with no engine? Let's go!
What's Hot on AOTS
Sara Underwood's Naked Bike Ride
1,316,284 Views | 05:20
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Olivia Announces Her Own Magazine!
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Train Ad Deals In LIES
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Adult International Fiction
From Wiki
Great Novels In Settings All Over the World:
- Madras on Rainy Days by Samina Ali
- Layla, a young woman raised in both the United States and Hyderabad India, is on the eve of her arranged wedding to a young man she has never met, the son of a longtime friend of her mother's family. But Layla has a secret; she is pregnant by her American lover. Her new husband also has a secret and refuses to consummate the marriage. Sensitive writing and luminous prose grace this story about a young woman assimilated as an American, finding herself as a young wife in India, struggling to please her family and new husband, and yet also retain her individuality and personal freedom, in a culture where women's lives are tightly controlled and problems, shrouded in secrecy, cannot be dealt with, as honor of the family must be preserved above all other values.


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Local woman to take break from volunteering at age 95
Lois Larson, age 95, is taking a "leave of absence" from her volunteer work at the Bingham Memorial Hospital Gift Shop. She has worked there for 17 years.
"It's nice to work in the gift shop," Larson said. "You get to visit with people. They tell you about their visit in the hospital."
"I'm still available when needed," she added.
Her decision to take a leave of absence is because of a bad knee.
Larson lives in Firth. Family members drive her to Blackfoot for her shift.
"I'm thankful for what I've got; I'm thankful for my family and that I can take care of myself," she said.
"I never thought I was going to be an old woman," Larson said. "There's no need thinking about what you can't change.
"Not a lot of people are left that I knew," she said. ""I think I miss my mother the most. We were more like best friends rather than mother and daughter.
"She was a fabulous woman—my mother."
Her mother, Alice McBride Catron, died when she was 99 1/2.
"You need to pretty well take things as they come," said Larson. "Meet new friends and go with the flow.
"I'm content with my world," she said. "I keep busy; I don't do more than I have to."
She plays the organ, works crossword puzzles and does church work.
She likes to collect coins and stamps.
She and her husband, Wayland, were married over 65 years. He died in 1998.
The two of them had Larson's Trading Post in Firth.
"We did lots of trading with Indian stuff," she said. "We sold antiques, new and used clothing and had milk and bread for sale."
The business was sold to build the post office in Firth.
"We traveled to all 50 states," she said. "My husband was an historian.
"He would find a reference to an overlooked cemetery and off we would go to find it," Larson said. "I have a lot of good memories."
Larson has four children—Carolyn, John, Lael and Winn--plus 19 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.
"I'm busy just keeping up with my family of almost 100," Larson said.
Her secret to longevity is "eat lots of chocolate."
"We ate healthy when we were raising our kids," she said. "We had a cow and grew vegetables.
"When I was growing up, we only went to the store for flour and then used the flour sack to make a dress.
As an aside, she added, "I love indoor plumbing.
"Before indoor plumbing, we would warm water to bath the kids once each week," Larson said. "We didn't have deodorant. I wonder how we stood one another."
"Having a washer and dryer is pretty nice, too," she said.
Her son, Winn, who lives next door to her, visits her each evening.
Her grandson, Jason, comes each Saturday and hauls up or puts away decorations, as needed.
"I'm lucky I have my family around," said Larson.


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We've moved!
The new CMA Thinker can be found here.
Explore art from another angle (and still get your weekly CMA event updates, too.) Follow CMA Thinker on Medium to have post notifications sent directly to your inbox!
Check out these five must-attend events this week at the CMA!
Ring in the New Year with the glamour and sparkle of the Jazz Age! New Year's Eve is right around the corner – what better way to celebrate than evoking the timeless style of the 1920s?
The holiday season is upon us and friends and family are gathering from near and far to celebrate. Spending a copious amount of time with loved ones is great, but what will you do with them AFTER the holiday parties end?
(You know where we're going with this.)


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Geomatics, the handling and processing of information and data about the Earth, is one geoscience discipline that has seen major changes in the last decade, as mapping and observation systems become ever more sensitive and sophisticated. This book is a unique and in-depth survey of the field, which has a central role to play in tackling a host of environmental issues faced by society. Covering all three strands of geomatics - applications, information technology and surveying - the chapters cover the history and background of the subject, the technology employed both to collect and disseminate data, and the varied applications to which geomatics can be put, including urban planning, assessment of biodiversity, disaster management and land administration. Relevant professionals, as well as students in a variety of disciplines such as geography and surveying, will find this book required reading. This rapidly developing field uses increasingly complex and accurate systems. Today, technology enables us to capture geo-data in full 3D as well as to disseminate it via the Web at the speed of light. We are able to continuously image the world from space at resolutions of up to 50 cm. Airborne LiDAR (laser surveying) sensors can be combined with digital camera technology to produce geometrically correct images of the Earth's surface, while integrating these with large-scale topographic maps and terrestrial as well as aerial images to produce 3D cityscapes that computer users can explore from their desktops.Technologies, Applications and the Environment Mathias Lemmens ... A recent textbook, treating principles of GIS, edited by Madden (2009) is the Manual of GIS . ... Eider Press, White Bear Lake, MN Brody H, Rip MR, Vinten-Johansen P ( 2000) Map-making and myth-making in Broad Street: the London Cholera epidemicanbsp;...
|Mathias Lemmens
|Springer Science & Business Media - 2011-08-03
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


text:
Swimming Pool Blog
by Rob Cox, September 12, 2010
2010 Pool Drowning Statistics
Every year, the CPSC releases the data collected on the drowning and near drowning incidents in pools and spas collected during the year, between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Of course, many drownings occur outside of June, July and August, however this data samples the period of largest use of water recreation, during the summer months.
Sadly, we can't expect to have a non-existent drowning rate, but this year, 2010 did see a reduction in US drownings of children during the summer. The average number of children lost is close to 200 per season. This year was lower at 172 children (under the age of 15) drowning between May 31 and September 6th.
Fewer swimming pool drownings in 2010 is little consolation for the families of 172 children lost this year. There still is a long way to go, with education and resources to continue to reduce the tragedies that bring such a black cloud over our industry. Most states made improvements in their numbers, the states with the largest numbers of incidents of pool drownings and pool near drownings this year are listed below. Over 180 non-fatal incidents occurred at our nation's pools and spas this summer.
Several high profile drownings occurred this year. In July, the young son of former NFL Quarterback Randall Cunningham drowned in the household spa, sunk into the floor and unprotected by a safe spa cover. Also this summer, 6 siblings drowned in the Red River. Cooling off on a hot summer day, but having never been taught to swim properly, a current pulled them all under.
Countless more stories are found online. And not only young children, although the age with the most vulnerability is the under-5 crowd, perform a Google search for "2010 pool drownings 12 year old", and you will be very surprised. Older kids who don't know how to swim may be at an even greater danger than very young children.
- There were more than 3300 unintentional drownings in the United States, an average of 9 per day.(CDC 2006)
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- For children 1-4 years old who died, 26% died from drowning (CDC 2006). Fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years (CDC 2005)
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- It is estimated that for each drowning death, there are 1 to 4 non-fatal submersions serious enough to result in hospitalization. Children who still require CPR at the time of arrival to the emergency department have a poor prognosis, with at least half of survivors suffering significant brain damage.
American Academy of Pediatrics
- 19% of drowning deaths involving children occur in public pools with certified Lifeguards present.
Drowning Prevention Foundation
- Children under five and adolescents between the ages of 15-24 have the highest drowning rates.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- An estimated 5,000 children age 14 and under are hospitalized due to unintentional drowning-related incidents each year; 15 percent die in the hospital and as many as 20 percent suffer severe, permanent neurological disability. National Safety Council
- Of all preschoolers who drown, 70 percent are in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning and 75 percent are missing from sight for five minutes or less.
Orange County, CA, Fire Authority
- The majority of children who survive (92 percent) are discovered within two minutes following submersion, and most children who die (86 percent) are found after 10 minutes. Nearly all who require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) die or are left with severe brain injury.
National Safe Kids Campaign
The CPSC would like you to know that the danger of drownings extend beyond swimming pools, and beyond the pool season. Check this link for information on Home Drowning Dangers. "Back to school does not mean the end of the swimming season. Many children in warm weather states have fun in the water all year," said Inez Tenenbaum, CPSC Chairman.
your website, please contact the author by the email link at the top of the page. Thank you!


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While LeTourneau University has historically enjoyed a very low occurrence of criminal activity and while we believe firmly that God has provided His protection on our campus, we also believe that He has honored our steadfast efforts to develop good crime prevention protocols for the security of our campus resources and community.
Each year, the University Police Department researches the latest developments in the Campus Crime Statistics Reporting Act in order to be assured of accurate reporting in all the required survey categories.
The Campus Crime Act (Clery Act), signed into law in 1990 by President Bush, includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus venues and property owned or controlled by LeTourneau University as well as properties owned or controlled by the University.
View records of recent criminaland hateoffenses on campus from the Office of Postsecondary Education website, or contact University Police at 903-233-4441 to request a copy. View the latest timely warningsto stay informed regarding the most recent crimes reported on or near campus.
Do what you can to avoid being a victim. Check out the following government sites to learn more about preventing and handling various crimes and emergencies.


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Swann slams old-fashioned England
England do not have a "cat in hell's chance" of winning next year's World Cup under Alastair Cook, according to Graeme Swann.
Swann and former England captain Michael Vaughan were both outspoken on the BBC's Test Match Special coverage of the washed-out first Royal London Series fixture against India in Bristol.
They voiced astonishment that England have left all-rounder Ravi Bopara out of their squad over the next two weeks, and are mystified by a collective lack of power in the batting order.
Graeme Swann believes England are living in the past when it comes to ODI cricket
Swann welcomed the introduction of his former Nottinghamshire team-mate Alex Hales as Cook's new opening partner, but believes it is a move that should have been made long ago.
He insists others, such as uncapped James Vince and Jason Roy, should also be fast-tracked into the team before it is too late.
England have yet to win a World Cup in 10 attempts dating back almost 40 years. Swann gives them no chance - with tactics he thinks are a decade out of date - of breaking their duck in Australia and New Zealand.
He said of his former team-mate and captain: "I love Alastair Cook dearly, but I don't think he should be bothering playing ODI cricket any more. He doesn't need to.
"He has proved a very good point in Tests - enjoy being England Test captain, let young people [play] who want to smash it everywhere and win you the World Cup.
"We won't win this one - there's no chance. But in four years' time, we might have a chance of winning a World Cup if we get all these young, exciting players - people who have been brought up on one-day cricket and have none of the baggage of this old-fashioned style of cricket we play.
"We play a 10-year-old game.
"I've just seen the sponsors here are Royal London and the tagline on their adverts is 'we're so yesterday' - they couldn't sum up the England one-day team any more in my view."
Cook has won many new admirers by turning England's Test fortunes around this summer to beat India 3-1 - after Vaughan and others had called for him to be relieved of the captaincy.
Swann added: "Alastair Cook is the most stubborn man in the world.
"He has almost backed himself into a corner where he's got to carry on.
"I don't think we've got a cat in hell's chance of winning the World Cup."
Hales' much-anticipated ODI debut is on hold until Wednesday in Cardiff, after the Bristol washout - and Swann can hardly wait.
"Hales should have been in this side for three years ... how the powers-that-be didn't see him as the future in ODI cricket ...!" he said, before recalling methods he despaired of as a player and which could not get England beyond the quarter-finals of the last World Cup.
"I used to sit in the changing room and I always felt we were so far behind other teams, because we play such an old-fashioned brand.
"Some of my best mates - Cook, (Ian) Bell, (Gary) Ballance - are not one-day players who are going to win you a World Cup.
"Hales is going to win you a World Cup - Vince, Roy, (Jos) Buttler, (Eoin) Morgan.
"They're players I wouldn't want to bowl at, who can build a total of 360-370."
Vaughan and Swann are at a loss to come to terms with Bopara's omission.
"It's absolutely crazy not to have Ravi in the team," said the former off-spinner.
Vaughan added: "I'm amazed and staggered Ravi Bopara is not here.
"He could be considered England's best one-day cricketer in the last one-and-a-half years.
"To throw away all that experience, know-how, bowling ability ... I'd be amazed if he's not back in by the World Cup."
Vaughan led England on a failed World Cup campaign in the West Indies seven years ago, and in hindsight does not think he should have been there.
"In 2006-07, my knee was dodgy.
"They should have knocked on my door to say 'your one-day form's not good, your knee's a bit dodgy - we could do with a bit of your captaincy, but we're going to go without you for that World Cup'.
"They'd have been better suited in 2007 without me."
Little, he believes, has changed - England still keeping faith with the wrong players in 50-over cricket.
"You look at England's strike rates - Bell 76, Cook 78 - with India, (Virat) Kohli 89, (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni 88, (Suresh) Raina 91, (Shikhar) Dhawan 89. We're 10 behind.
"We've made the same mistake now as we did in my time, five to six years ago and in the 1990s.
"We're picking one-day squads on Test form.
"The other teams have gone power at the top and all the way through. India have got power strikers all the way down - South Africa, Australia exactly the same.
"You need power at the top, in the middle and at the end."
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Equivalent Fractions
Young scholars study the concept of equivalent fractions using naming concepts.
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November 26. 2012 8:29PM
Salem man sentenced for mail-order marijuana
By JAMES A. KIMBLE
Union Leader Correspondent
Raymond Speight Jr., 23, of Salem was indicted for possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute stemming from his arrest in March. Police say Speight Jr. had 5 1/2 lbs. of marijuana shipped to a post office box listed to a fictional clothing company. (COURTESY)
BRENTWOOD - A Salem man arrested for receiving 5˝ pounds of marijuana in the mail was sent to state prison on Monday after a judge rejected an argument that his offense was worthy of a largely time-served jail sentence.
Raymond Speight Jr., 23, received a 1˝- to 4-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in Rockingham County Superior Court to possession of a controlled drug with attempt to distribute.
Prosecutors argued that despite recent legalization efforts to decriminalize marijuana around the nation, Speight's offense should still warrant prison time given the amount of marijuana seized from his home.
"This isn't just marijuana, this is 5˝ pounds of marijuana," Assistant County Attorney Ben LeDuc said. "This isn't somebody with a joint or somebody with any small amount."
Salem police were alerted by U.S. Postal Inspector Michael McCarran earlier this year that Speight had taken delivery of roughly 16 suspicious packages between February and March, each weighing 2 to 5 pounds.
The packages drew the attention of McCarran because they had tell-tale signs of possibly containing drugs, according to LeDuc. They were mailed from a fictitious business in Scottsdale, Ariz., the addresses were handwritten, and the packages were protected with heavy amounts of tape, he said.
Speight had been picking up the packages - addressed to another fictitious business - from a UPS store in Methuen, Mass., LeDuc said.
Police seized only a single package from Speight on March 29, but investigators found a scale, $16,056 in cash and other packages along with the drugs. Federal prosecutors seized the cash earlier this year as part of a separate court action.
Defense lawyer Donald Blaszka argued that the state lacked any evidence what the empty packages once contained. Prosecutors considered it circumstantial evidence that Speight was dealing marijuana.
"There's no evidence. There's no intelligence ... that points to Mr. Speight as some big-time drug dealer or big-time marijuana dealer," Blaszka said.
He argued for Speight, who has been jailed since his arrest in March, to serve a 12-month jail sentence and receive two years probation.
Judge N. William Delker disagreed with that assessment.
"What you have done in this case is nothing short of being a drug dealer," Delker said.
He said all the evidence in the case left no mystery to what he was doing.
"You're not dealing a little on side to fuel a drug habit," Delker said. "You are the problem."


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Yudith Nieto has no time to waste. And like so many other young people like her, she's no longer waiting for a society that insists on postponing confronting the problem that will define her and future generations: climate disruption.
That's why Yudith -- a native Mexican and tireless environmental justice fighter -- is on the vanguard of the fight against climate change and the oil industry that every day bombards her community with eight known carcinogens. She grew up and lives in Manchester, the most polluted barrio in Houston, one of the country's most polluted cities.
Manchester -- which is predominantly Latino -- also has the bad fortune to be the most likely candidate to host the terminal of the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that threatens to move tar sands oil -- the dirtiest on the planet -- from Alberta, Canada, to Yudith's barrio.
"We must find the strength to empower each other to face the environmental racism we are living under," says Yudith, who, along with dozens of other activists was arrested during a Feb. 13 civil disobedience protest against Keystone XL in front of the White House.
"I decided to show my solidarity and support to all of those who stand in resistance to the KXL pipeline, both at the extraction and refining points," she says. "I also believe it will help me to advocate for my community and help amplify their voices, which have been so long ignored."
The pipeline -- a project that must be first approved by President Obama -- would transport millions of barrels of a type of crude that contains 20 percent more carbon than the conventional kind. Scientists have warned that if this project were completed, it would mean game over for the planet's climate.
The State Department, in a deeply flawed report, recently stated that the pipeline's environmental impact would be unsubstantial, even though it acknowledged the extraordinary toxic nature of tar sand oil.
What the report fails to state, however, is the scandalous fact that critical parts of it were completed by firms with close ties to the oil industry, including ExxonMobil, BP and Koch Industries, which is deeply involved in both the production and refining of Canadian tar sand oil.
"These skeptics need to realize that the voice of the people will rise above all the noise created by their deceit and ignorance," warns Yudith. "It is immoral and severely irrational to deny the law of causality and think that our actions do not have any serious consequences."
This boondoggle would benefit only the oil industry. Ninety percent of the transported crude is destined for exports, its impact on gas prices at the pump would be insignificant and the vast majority of the jobs it would create would be temporary.
And to top it all off, the terminal of this serpent of greed would be built in Yudith's barrio, which already is burdened with the country's largest concentration of refineries and petrochemical plants. According to a study by the City of Houston, the chances of contracting leukemia within a radius of two miles of the Houston ship channel, which is in Manchester, are a mind-blowing 56 percent.
But Big Oil's immense power and decades of environmental injustices suffered by her community have failed to diminish Yudith's resolve.
"I do believe that this is a historic opportunity to make our society more prosperous and just," she concludes. "Love and compassion toward each other are the most valuable components and a necessity if we want to save our civilization."
Fortunately for all of us, young people like Yudith Nieto are at the vanguard of the fight against an oil industry sick with greed.


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Dr. King references the Book of Amos regarding the ethics of God. According to the scriptures God is just and fair and demands "justice and sacrifice."
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Check out reviews left by other students or leave your own review. You could win a free scholarship.Add your Review
Elizabeth from Lynn, MA
Reviewer is A current student here.
1 of 2
Categories Comments Campus Safety
THe campus is really safe. They have the main entrance monitored. they also have ramps for handicaped and easy access. They are also very clean.
Clubs and Activities
THere are barely any clubs and activities.
Bang for the buck
This school is very expensive nad it doesnt seem to have alot going for it.
What to do for fun
Hang out with your friends. watch the ocean waves from the campuses back yard. There are also alot of planned things that the college does.
Food and Dining
THe food is not very well here. We have a small selection to choose from and most of the time it isent that great. THe upside is that you are a five minute drive from the center where there are about 5 diffrent food places to choose from.
Dorm Life
Unfortunatly there are no dorms
Academic Rigor
THis school is has pretty good academics. Its a little eaisier then most schools. This school is kinda getting you prepared to go to a bigger college.
Tips for prospective students
THis school would be great for you if you like to go to a small school. You get to know everybody. The only downfall is that it is a little expenve compared to community colleges. It is a beautiful campus and its also a private school. I would recommend this school to anyone wanting to stay close to home and on a small college.
In three sentences
It is a very small college. It is also kinda expensive. Very easy to make friends and get to know everybody.
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Gabby from Marblehead, Ma
Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 2 of 2
Categories Comments Campus Safety
Because of the ferocious, and crazy guy that killed 20 toddlers in Newton Connecticut, all sides doors are locked. Every student have to enter the front entrance.
Clubs and Activities
We have student government where they plan the activities. Not long ago, we had a Football Draft.
Great for these types of students
The students rate this college as a good college. They like the fact the professor are eager to learn and teach the students.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Because this is a Catholic College, we do have mass (not everyday). We have Ice-cream social, pizza parties. Speaking of pizza, everyday, we have pizza.
What to do for fun
There is a lot of celebration at Marian Court. Student Government (which i am involved) we do a lot of parties, donating, etc.
Food and Dining
The Food here is respectfully healthy and inexpensive.
Dorm Life
There are no dorms in this college.
Academic Rigor
Depending on your major, the work load is extensive. A lot of reading, writing analytically, and a lot of critical thinking. The teacher Push you physically, mentally, and emotionally. They care for your education.
Tips for prospective students
Marian Court College in my eyes is a family college. When you first walk in that door you are not view as number, you are part of a family.
In three sentences
Marian Court College is a great college. Small classes equal better learning. The professors are professional and they are teach well. The students here are ready and eager to learn.
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Warm yourself up with this delicious Butternut Squash Soup recipe!
1 Quart Roasted Butternut Squash (about 2 medium squash)
1 oz Butter
1/4 lb yellow onion, chopped
1 Granny Smith Apple, chopped
1 Quart Apple Cider
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1/8 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/8 Teaspoon Ground Clove
Salt and Pepper to taste
*Bonus Tip*: To roast your butternut squash, split the squash length wise and scoop out the seeds.
Lay the two pieces face down on an oiled pan and roast for about 1 hour until soft.
1. Heat the butter in a heavy bottom sauce pan and sweat the onions and apple
2. Add the apple cider and reduce by half
3. Add the chicken stock, spices and squash
4. Simmer for 30 minutes
5. Add the heavy cream and simmer for 10 more minutes
6. Blend
7. Season to taste with salt and pepper


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Cancer Detection
This example demonstrates using a neural network to detect cancer from mass spectrometry data on protein profiles.
Serum proteomic pattern diagnostics can be used to differentiate samples from patients with and without disease. Profile patterns are generated using surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization (SELDI) protein mass spectrometry. This technology has the potential to improve clinical diagnostics tests for cancer pathologies.
The Problem: Cancer Detection
The goal is to build a classifier that can distinguish between cancer and control patients from the mass spectrometry data.
The methodology followed in this example is to select a reduced set of measurements or "features" that can be used to distinguish between cancer and control patients using a classifier.
These features will be ion intensity levels at specific mass/charge values.
Formatting the Data
The data in this example is from the FDA-NCI Clinical Proteomics Program Databank: http://home.ccr.cancer.gov/ncifdaproteomics/ppatterns.asp
To recreate the data in ovarian_dataset.mat used in this example, download and uncompress the raw mass-spectrometry data from the FDA-NCI web site. Create the data file OvarianCancerQAQCdataset.mat by either running script msseqprocessing in Bioinformatics Toolbox (TM) or by following the steps in the example biodistcompdemo (Batch processing with parallel computing). The new file contains variables Y, MZ and grp.
Each column in Y represents measurements taken from a patient. There are 216 columns in Y representing 216 patients, out of which 121 are ovarian cancer patients and 95 are normal patients.
Each row in Y represents the ion intensity level at a specific mass-charge value indicated in MZ. There are 15000 mass-charge values in MZ and each row in Y represents the ion-intensity levels of the patients at that particular mass-charge value.
The variable grp holds the index information as to which of these samples represent cancer patients and which ones represent normal patients.
An extensive description of this data set and excellent introduction to this promising technology can be found in [1] and [2].
Ranking Key Features
This is a typical classification problem in which the number of features is much larger than the number of observations, but in which no single feature achieves a correct classification, therefore we need to find a classifier which appropriately learns how to weight multiple features and at the same time produce a generalized mapping which is not over-fitted.
A simple approach for finding significant features is to assume that each M/Z value is independent and compute a two-way t-test. rankfeatures returns an index to the most significant M/Z values, for instance 100 indices ranked by the absolute value of the test statistic.
To finish recreating the data from ovarian_dataset.mat, load the OvarianCancerQAQCdataset.mat and rankfeatures from Bioinformatics Toolbox to choose 100 highest ranked measurements as inputs x.
ind = rankfeatures(Y,grp,'CRITERION','ttest','NUMBER',100); x = Y(ind,:);
Define the targets t for the two classes as follows:
t = double(strcmp('Cancer',grp)); t = [t; 1-t];
The preprocessing steps from the script and example listed above are intended to demonstrate a representative set of possible pre-processing and feature selection procedures. Using different steps or parameters may lead to different and possibly improved results of this example.
[x,t] = ovarian_dataset; whos
Name Size Bytes Class Attributes t 2x216 3456 double x 100x216 172800 double
Each column in x represents one of 216 different patients.
Each row in x represents the ion intensity level at one of the 100 specific mass-charge values for each patient.
The variable t has 2 rows of 216 values each of which are either [1;0], indicating a cancer patient, or [0;1] for a normal patient.
Classification Using a Feed Forward Neural Network
Now that you have identified some significant features, you can use this information to classify the cancer and normal samples.
Since the neural network is initialized with random initial weights, the results after training the network vary slightly every time the example is run. To avoid this randomness, the random seed is set to reproduce the same results every time. However this is not necessary for your own applications.
A 1-hidden layer feed forward neural network with 5 hidden layer neurons is created and trained. The input and target samples are automatically divided into training, validation and test sets. The training set is used to teach the network. Training continues as long as the network continues improving on the validation set. The test set provides a completely independent measure of network accuracy.
The input and output have sizes of 0 because the network has not yet been configured to match our input and target data. This will happen when the network is trained.
net = patternnet(5); view(net)
Now the network is ready to be trained. The samples are automatically divided into training, validation and test sets. The training set is used to teach the network. Training continues as long as the network continues improving on the validation set. The test set provides a completely independent measure of network accuracy.
The Neural Network Training Tool shows the network being trained and the algorithms used to train it. It also displays the training state during training and the criteria which stopped training will be highlighted in green.
The buttons at the bottom open useful plots which can be opened during and after training. Links next to the algorithm names and plot buttons open documentation on those subjects.
[net,tr] = train(net,x,t);
To see how the network's performance improved during training, either click the "Performance" button in the training tool, or call PLOTPERFORM.
Performance is measured in terms of mean squared error, and shown in a log scale. It rapidly decreased as the network was trained.
Performance is shown for each of the training, validation and test sets.
The trained neural network can now be tested with the testing samples we partitioned from the main dataset. The testing data was not used in training in any way and hence provides an "out-of-sample" dataset to test the network on. This will give us a sense of how well the network will do when tested with data from the real world.
The network outputs will be in the range 0 to 1, so we threshold them to get 1's and 0's indicating cancer or normal patients respectively.
testX = x(:,tr.testInd); testT = t(:,tr.testInd); testY = net(testX); testClasses = testY > 0.5
testClasses = 2x32 logical array Columns 1 through 19 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 Columns 20 through 32 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1
One measure of how well the neural network has fit the data is the confusion plot. Here the confusion matrix is plotted across all samples.
The confusion matrix shows the percentages of correct and incorrect classifications. Correct classifications are the green squares on the matrices diagonal. Incorrect classifications form the red squares.
If the network has learned to classify properly, the percentages in the red squares should be very small, indicating few misclassifications.
If this is not the case then further training, or training a network with more hidden neurons, would be advisable.
Here are the overall percentages of correct and incorrect classification.
[c,cm] = confusion(testT,testY) fprintf('Percentage Correct Classification : %f%%\n', 100*(1-c)); fprintf('Percentage Incorrect Classification : %f%%\n', 100*c);
c = 0.1563 cm = 13 0 5 14 Percentage Correct Classification : 84.375000% Percentage Incorrect Classification : 15.625000%
Another measure of how well the neural network has fit data is the receiver operating characteristic plot. This shows how the false positive and true positive rates relate as the thresholding of outputs is varied from 0 to 1.
The farther left and up the line is, the fewer false positives need to be accepted in order to get a high true positive rate. The best classifiers will have a line going from the bottom left corner, to the top left corner, to the top right corner, or close to that.
Class 1 indicate cancer patiencts, class 2 normal patients.
This example illustrated how neural networks can be used as classifiers for cancer detection. One can also experiment using techniques like principal component analysis to reduce the dimensionality of the data to be used for building neural networks to improve classifier performance.
[1] T.P. Conrads, et al., "High-resolution serum proteomic features for ovarian detection", Endocrine-Related Cancer, 11, 2004, pp. 163-178.
[2] E.F. Petricoin, et al., "Use of proteomic patterns in serum to identify ovarian cancer", Lancet, 359(9306), 2002, pp. 572-577.


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A great choice for your next fishing trip, the Waterloo Rod Company Salinity 7' ML Saltwater Casting Rod is designed with a graphite blank for strength and light weight and 8 line guides plus the tip to help promote smooth line movement. The rod features an 8.25" cork handle with a composite cork butt and offers medium-fast action for great responsiveness. Line weight: 6 - 12 lb. 1-piece design.


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I am using an arduino wifi shield and using one of the example sketches that creates a web server and lets you turn an LED on and off from the web server. The problem I am having is that after i connect to my wireless connection and have a good connection and then proceed to connect to the server the arduino has created the web browser can not find the page. I'm not too sure what the problem could be, but if anyone knows anything i'm willing to trouble shoot.
Thank you


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So we know North Korea has a habit of puffing its chest and it feels like Kim Jong-Un's country declares the annihilation of its enemies seemingly every other day now. But with the U.S. announcing that they're practicing stealth bombing runs over the Korean peninsula, it's a sign that the U.S. is taking those threats seriously.
"The two B-2 Spirit bombers made a nonstop round trip from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.," reportsThe New York Times's Choe Sang-Hun. "It was the first time the U.S. military publicly confirmed a B-2 mission over the Korean Peninsula." According to reports the B-2s flew over South Korea's west coast.
Obviously, the test run demonstrates that the U.S. has the capability of flying that far without actually crossing into North Korea and it appears to be meant to send a message that the U.S. is willing to defend South Korea against the North. There's also probably some historical symbolism thrown in. Hun adds, "After suffering from the American carpet-bombing during the 1950-53 Korean War, North Korea remains particularly sensitive about U.S. bombers."


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CDL A Tanker Truck Drivers Needed Today - Great Benefits - Top Pay!
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Jobs Rated204th
Title: CDL A Tanker Truck Drivers Needed Today - Great Benefits - Top Pay!
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Company Name: Elliott Truckline
Location: Midwest City, OK
Come drive with Elliott Truck Line!
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- Earn up to $.60 per mile
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Campus Weather
The Department of Geography and Earth Science presents current weather conditions on campus, weather data, and a weather watch cam. View campus weather.
Severe Weather Information
Shippensburg University remains open, classes held and services provided during winter weather. Only when it is impossible to reasonably accommodate students and others due to weather conditions ON CAMPUS will consideration be given to changing the university's operation. Only the university president (or his designee) may authorize schedule changes.
Announcements are made ONLY if the university's regular operation is disrupted. ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL NOT BE MADE SAYING THE UNIVERSITY IS OPEN! If you call Hotline and there is no message announcing a schedule change, the university is open as normal. Hotline and this webpage are the official sources of information on schedule changes.
Changes affecting day classes and work shifts will be announced by 6:30 a.m. or as close to that time as possible based on circumstances. Changes affecting classes and work shifts during the regular day will be made as soon as conditions warrant. Changes affecting evening classes and work shifts will be announced by 4 p.m. or earlier if conditions warrant. View the complete weather policy.
All members of the campus community are reminded that it is their personal decision as to whether they can safely make it to campus during inclement weather. Each person must make that decision based on his or her individual circumstances.
- (717) 477-1200 from off-campus
- Ext. 1200 from on-campus
Hotline operates 24 hours a day. PLEASE DO NOT CALL UNIVERSITY POLICE.
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Announcements will also be given to the following stations:
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The University of Iowa (UI) has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), of which it is a charter member, since 1913. Every ten years, the University undergoes review and evaluation by the NCA's Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to determine whether it has continued to meet the high standards required for reaccreditation.
As a first step in this process, the University conducts a self-study. The resulting report informs the external evaluators—but even more importantly, it helps set a direction for the University's future by highlighting strengths and weaknesses in critical areas. Moreover, it serves as a status report for the University's internal and external constituencies, thus helping the University to uphold its responsibility for accountability to the people it serves.
Ten years ago, we chose to take advantage of the then-new "special emphasis self-study" option, which allows a qualified institution to focus its self-examination on an area of particular, timely importance. At that time, we chose to study how effectively we were using information and communications technology to meet our teaching and learning goals. That self-study, in conjunction with the site visitors' evaluation, helped us direct our efforts and position ourselves for considerable success in an area of rapidly increasing centrality as we entered the 21st century. This reaccreditation cycle, we hope to benefit once again from the opportunity to make that kind of concentrated assessment in an area of critical importance, this time with a special emphasis on undergraduate education.
As institutional leaders consulted across the University with faculty, staff, and administrators in all eleven colleges, they were convinced the time is ripe for a renewed commitment to undergraduate education. After all, in the words of former Executive Vice President and Provost Michael J. Hogan, undergraduate education is our "core function . . . . Public universities wouldn't exist were it not for our role in educating undergraduate students and preparing them for responsible participation in their communities." Using the self-study as an opportunity to examine the many facets of undergraduate education at The University of Iowa provides the critical, evidence-based self-examination that will help us achieve the first goal of our strategic plan: "To create a University experience that enriches the lives of undergraduates and helps them to become well-informed individuals, lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and productive employees and employers."
Section I of this self-study report provides The University of Iowa's general self-assessment regarding its compliance with the HLC criteria for accreditation. Section II describes the process, and evaluates the results, of the special emphasis self-study on undergraduate education, which the Provost set in motion in summer 2005. Throughout section II, sidebar notes highlight how the findings of the special emphasis self-study also address the accreditation criteria.
Many individuals—faculty, staff, students, community members—contributed to the self-study and to preparing this report. Many are named within the text that follows, but most are not. The self-study steering committee extends its sincere gratitude to them all.
January, 2008
© The University of Iowa 2008. • Office of the Provost. • All rights reserved


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(News Release) - The Decorah Eagles laid egg number one at 4:55pm on February 23rd, 2014. This marks egg #18 for our eagle couple. If past years are a guide, we can expect two more eggs to be laid over the next seven or eight days. Both eagles will take turns incubating the eggs, which should begin hatching 35-39 days after the first egg was laid.
The Decorah pair became international stars in 2011, when their nest went viral. To date, over 280 million people from 84 countries have followed the eagle family from eggs to fledgling birds, watching every aspect of life in a wild nest. We've seen the adults protect eggs and eaglets in raging snowstorms, stand guard against marauding animals, and feed their ever-growing and always hungry young. Thanks to satellite technology, we're still following a bird who fledged in 2011. Bald eagle D1 has logged well over 2,000 miles, flying from northeast Iowa to Hudson's Bay twice. We can hardly wait to see where she goes next!
The eagles can be watched live at http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles. The current camera set-up includes a remotely operated PTZ camera, a fixed infra-red cam for night viewing, and audio. Moderated chat is available on ustream from 8 AM – 8 PM, Central Standard Time, seven days weekly. We also have a facebook page and forum. Go to http://www.raptorresource.org for links.
We hope everyone enjoys watching the family this year!
About The Raptor Resource Project
Established in 1988, the non-profit Raptor Resource Project specializes in the preservation of falcons, eagles, ospreys, hawks, and owls. We create, improve, and directly maintain over 40 nests and nest sites, provide training in nest site creation and management, and develop innovations in nest site management and viewing that bring people closer to the natural world. Our mission is to preserve and strengthen raptor populations, expand participation in raptor preservation, and help foster the next generation of preservationists.
About Ustream
Ustream is the world's most scalable and social live video platform. Originally created to connect remote military servicemen to significant personal and cultural events, the company has evolved into a socially-fueled vehicle enabling anyone to reach global audiences and share experiences in real-time. Whether it's a press conference, product launch, educational class, or an act of citizen journalism – Ustream's Cloud Platform offers users high-quality streaming capabilities, deep social networking integration, and the scalability to reach millions of viewers concurrently. Our mission is to empower businesses and societies to be more transparent, more productive, and build deeper relationships through the power of video.
(WQOW) - In case you haven't been able to catch a live glimpse of the eagles building their nest on the Decorah Eagle Cam, here are a few still shots of the beautiful birds at work! Enjoy!
To learn more about the eagles and the individuals running the cameras, visit www.raptorresource.org
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TROOPER BASEBALL - The Sheridan Troopers lost 14-4 at Post 6 in Cheyenne last night and it's a quick turn around for the Troops as they host a conference game tonight with Casper.
Tonight's game is the final home game of the season for the Troops and we will have it live for you at 6:00 it's scheduled as a single nine inning game and will be broadcast live on 14-10 KWYO..
They are scheduled to end the regular season at Casper Saturday then onto the state tournament in Cheyenne set to begin on the 31st.
Men's Champion - Todd Fenner
Women's Champion - Kayla Morris
2013 Wyoming Summer A & B LC Championships
Event 1 Girls 8 & Under 100 LC Meter Freestyle
Name Age Team Seed Time Finals Time Points
20 Cleland, Isabel J 8 Sheridan Swim Team-WY 2:11.85 2:16.92 SUMM
23 Mulholland, Zoe M 6 Sheridan Swim Team-WY 2:21.50 2:37.34
--- Morgan, Jaylynn D 8 Sheridan Swim Team-WY 1:56.11 DQ
Event 4 Boys 10 & Under 100 LC Meter Freestyle
Name Age Team Prelim Time Finals Time Points
TROOPER BASEBALL - The Sheridan Troopers dropped both ends of a double header in Laramie Monday by scores of 8-6 in both games.
They play a single nine inning conference game tonight in Cheyenne and come home tomorrow to host another conference game with Casper.
The game with the Oilers tomorrow is the final home game of the season for the Troops and we will have it live for you at 6:00 it's scheduled as a single nine inning game and will be broadcast live on 14-10 KWYO.
The Malcolm Wallop Trophy held Sunday July 21, 1:00 p.m. at the Big Horn Equestrian Center:
Big Horn Beverage defeated Sheridan Seed, 11-9.
MVP was Asa Fitzsimmons for Sheridan Seed Co.
Best Playing Pony was "Lincoln", played by Devin Vass
Big Horn Beverage:
#1 Wayne Garrison / Ty MacCarty
#2 Julie Nicholson
#3 Orrin Connell
#4 Nicolai Galindo
Sheridan Seed Co.
#1 Asa Fitzsimmons
#2 Drew Luplow / Craig Luplow
#3 Jeff Shuler / Devin Vass
#4 Carlitos Galindo
The Coca-Cola Cup held Sunday July 21, 3:00 p.m. at the Big Horn Equestrian Center:
The Sheridan Babe Ruth 14 Year Old Team defeated the Casper Griz on Saturday morning 10-4, to win the Wyoming State 14 Division Babe Ruth Tournament. They are now 2 time Babe Ruth State Champions, having won the 13 year old division last year.
Pictured L-R: Paden Koltistka, Dylan Shaw, Andrew Ratty, Coy Steel, Colton Williams, Noah Gustafson, Nolan McCafferty, Andrew Boint, Colton Bates, Dominic Miller, Jeff Shanor, and Carl Geertz. The team is Coached by Mike McCafferty and Mike Boint. Special Thanks to Pinch Coaches Tom Mayer and Dan Godwin for this weeks state tournament.
TROOPER BASEBALL - The Sheridan Troopers play a double header in Laramie tonight, then back to back conference games in Cheyenne tomorrow and back home to face Casper Wednesday night at Thorne-Rider stadium .
The Troops are 2-1 in conference play, the conference records will seed the teams for the state tournament.
The Troopers have been off for a week and they seen each opponent with the exception of Casper they've played Laramie three times in their last five games and took two out of three from the Rangers Head coach Ben Phillips.
Bryce Burnell of Arvada took the National High School Finals Bull Riding Championship over the weekend as the 2013 Finals wrapped up in Rock Springs.


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April 20, 2007
Click Here!
Phoronix To Support Solaris OS
Phoronix writes "Our primary focus at Phoronix has been and will remain on covering the GNU/Linux hardware scene; however, the Solaris OS will become standard for use in a majority of our reviews and other hardware articles. We have been monitoring the Solaris landscape for quite some time and we see today's adoption as an important milestone for Solaris desktop users and the alternative operating system community in general. Our goal is to provide Solaris users with the most detailed information when it comes to compatibility and performance for desktop and server hardware."
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Menards Brings Savings with Christmas Dutch Auction [PHOTOS]
The Menards in Sedalia is having a huge Dutch Auction type of sale on a lot of their Christmas Decor. But that's not all that's happening out there! I got to head out this weekend for a live broadcast, and here's a bit of what happened.


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To fix its troubled counterterrorism training, the FBI is calling in the cavalry.
The Bureau has turned to the Army's Combating Terrorism Center at West Point to scour the FBI's training materials, after Danger Room revealed that Bureau specialists were teaching agents that "mainstream" Muslims were likely to be "violent" and radical." The West Point request represents a frank admission from the FBI that it requires outside help to reform.
The Combating Terrorism Center earns high praise from counterterrorism experts as a haven for rigorous, practical scholarship on terrorism and Islamic extremism. Its researchers consider themselves to be the opposite of analysts like William Gawthrop, the FBI intelligence analyst who compared Islam to the Death Star and Mohammed to a "cult leader." The CTC experts' challenge, as they themselves see it, is to undo the work of Gawthrop and his allies.
"At CTC, there's an ethos of education," says Brian Fishman of the New America Foundation, a former research director at the Center. "When you have that, you inherently recognize that you need to illustrate that, for example, the practice of Islam around the world isn't monolithic."
The CTC, as it's known, has had a partnership with the Bureau for years; all new FBI agents go through a mandatory class prepared by the Center about international terrorism. But it's unclear how thoroughly the Bureau will allow the CTC to revamp its curriculum — especially when there has for years been a powerful strain of Islamophobic sentiment running throughout the Bureau.
After Danger Room's investigation revealed pervasive anti-Islam sentiment within FBI professional education system, the Bureau announced in late September a "comprehensive review of all training and reference materials" related to terrorism. That review is still ongoing, although a source tells Danger Room the FBI might announce its results as early as mid-November.
A review committee is scouring over 150,000 pages of counterterrorism training material, more than 4,500 presentations and a little more than 16 hours of video, "from all FBI field offices, as well as materials utilized by the Counterterrorism and Training Divisions," according to an FBI statement. Unnamed "non-FBI personnel with academic training in areas of Islamic studies and Arab history" are involved in the examination.
The review's criteria for counterterrorism training is vague, according to the FBI's statement. "Training must conform to constitutional principles and adhere to the FBI's core values," it says; it must be "supported with appropriate course materials"; trainers must be "knowledgeable of applicable subject material"; and that material must "facilitate further learning and professional development."
Almost as soon as the review began, the FBI reached out to an organization it has partnered with since 2006: the CTC. Bill Braniff, a retired Army captain and Director of Practitioner Education at West Point, spent much of October in meetings at Bureau Headquarters in Washington D.C. designing what a source familiar with the process describes as "guidelines for objectionable material" to exclude from agent training.
It's unclear whether the FBI has allowed the CTC to go further in designing a curriculum to replace the lectures Gawthrop was permitted to deliver to special agents at Quantico. All the FBI statement says about the review's mandate is that "items determined to conflict with the guidelines will be removed from FBI training curricula." That sounds like the reviewers will merely cull existing training material, not write new ones, though FBI spokesman Christopher Allen says their guidelines will "be used for developing curricula going forward."
In its eight-year history, the CTC has built a reputation as a non-ideological haven for rigorous, data-driven counterterrorism research. It compiled perhaps the most thorough profile ever of the foreign fighters that flocked to Iraq, based on captured military documents. Its monthly newsletter, the CTC Sentinel, is widely read in counterterrorism circles. Not only does the CTC teach the Army's cadets at West Point, who will have to distinguish between Muslim civilians and insurgents in warzones, it consults for state and local police — and the FBI.
"CTC has been a leader in the field in terms of the quality of analysis and academic studies that it produces," says Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, a counterterrorism analyst at the conservative Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. "Its work has been both high caliber and also balanced, so I think it's an appropriate institution to work to overhaul the FBI's counterterrorism training."
Braniff declined to comment for this story. But Fishman, who used to work with Braniff, considers him one of the CTC's finest. "Bill is one of these people who has not published extensively," Fishman says, "but is one of the smartest guys and one of most thoughtful people on these issues out there."
He also has worked with the FBI for about four years, the outgrowth of a CTC partnership begun around 2006. Back then, the FBI was still adjusting to its new post-9/11 role as an intelligence agency. It turned to the CTC to design a mandatory counterterrorism course for new agents at Quantico. And it also approached the CTC to design a textbook for agents about terrorism. The result, Terrorism & Political Islam, was a 450-page textbook that the CTC compiled and distributed to FBI field offices around the country, which are in charge of teaching the textbook. Braniff edited the second edition, published in 2008, and is at work on a third, expected in 2012.
The textbook stands in stark contrast to Gawthrop's offerings. While it studies various extremist interpretations of Islam, it does not, by and large, conflate Islam with terrorism. "[A]n individual's likelihood of participating in Islamist violence is not a function of piety, how closely one adheres to Islamic teachings," writes Christopher Heffelfinger, one of the book's co-editors. Nor does the book suggest that all terrorism is Islamic; a DVD supplement contained in the back of the book even studies Israel's '80s-era Machteret Yehudit terrorist group.
But Terrorism & Political Islam is a compendium, with multiple authors. And some of the FBI-penned chapters that Braniff inherited contain broad generalizations for counterterrorism agents that sit uneasily with Heffelfinger's instruction.
A section on interviewing and interrogation, for instance, written by FBI special agents Brig Barker and Molly Amman, counsels that a sample interview with a terror suspect could begin, "What do you think about the situation in Iraq?" and proceed to elicit anti-American answers. Someone with "a patriotic and pro-Western stance" might become a potential informant, they write. By contrast, someone who doesn't support the war could "indicate the individual follows militant ideology."
A source with first-hand knowledge of the CTC's relationship with the Bureau described Braniff as embarrassed by the chapter, but accepted it in order to keep relations with the FBI cordial. (The chapter will be excised in the third edition of the textbook.) Those relations could be strained. On an occasion when Braniff lectured to FBI agents, Gawthrop attended the session, glowering at Braniff from the back of the room. The source said Braniff understood Gawthrop's presence to be a warning — should the FBI grow dissatisfied with his instruction, Gawthrop would be his replacement.
That would've been a major shift. While new agents learned from the CTC textbook that conflating Islam with terrorism relies on "tendentious readings of Islamic history and scripture," Gawthrop taught that America's war with with Muslim ideology, not Muslim extremists. During his Quantico course, Gawthrop labelled average, modern-day Muslims as violent, seventh-century thugs (see the chart, above). A few months later, in New York City, he said that the struggle against al-Qaida was "irrelevant," compared to the threat of Islam itself.
All that speaks to the FBI's schizophrenic approach to counterterrorism and Islam. On the one hand, it proclaims that American Muslims are its invaluable partner in protecting America; on the other, it collects pattern-of-life data on Muslims around the country who haven't been accused of crimes. On the one hand, it brings in Braniff and the CTC to reform its counterterrorism training; on the other, Gawthrop has kept his job as an FBI intelligence analyst. On the one hand, it pledged a thorough scrub of its training; on the other, Director Robert Mueller downplayed the anti-Islam lectures as a "very unusual occasion."
It remains to be seen if the FBI will allow the CTC to actually design its counterterrorism training exclusively, or merely allow the CTC to be among "FBI and non-FBI" personnel who "remov[e] from FBI training curricula" material deemed objectionable. Accordingly, it's difficult to tell if the FBI has finally made up its mind on the relationship between Islam and terrorism — or if the CTC will make the bureau's mind up for it.
Photo: West Point Public Affairs
See Also:
- Justice Department Official: Muslim 'Juries' Threaten 'Our Values'
- Video: FBI Trainer Says Forget 'Irrelevant' al-Qaida, Target Islam
- FBI 'Islam 101′ Guide Depicted Muslims as 7th-Century Simpletons
- New Evidence of Anti-Islam Bias Underscores Deep Challenges for FBI's Reform Pledge
- FBI Teaches Agents: 'Mainstream' Muslims Are 'Violent, Radical'


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Robert Milkins turns 36 next Tuesday. He is due to become a father for the second time on Monday.
And it's shaping up to be a really memorable week for the Gloucester man as he appears in the second ranking event semi-final of his career at the Haikou World Open today.
His first was seven years ago at the Irish Masters. My memory of that was that he was 8-5 up to Matthew Stevens, who potted a ridiculously good green to deny him victory in frame 14 and went on to win 9-8.
Having come so close to a major final, perhaps Rob's confidence got knocked a little but it has clearly returned this week.
He made sure to credit Terry Griffiths, director of coaching at the South West Snooker Academy, for helping him not just with his game but also his mind.
Clarity of thought in snooker is so important: blocking out the doubts and distractions and just playing the balls.
Milkins did this with great aplomb yesterday in defeating John Higgins, who himself played well.
It was one of Milkins's best ever wins and he has every reason to believe he can beat Stephen Lee today and reach the final.